Principles for Conversion to Ecological Agriculture
Use Renewable Resources
– Use renewable sources of energy instead of non-renewable sources.
– Use biological nitrogen fixation.
– Use naturally-occurring materials instead of synthetic, manufactured inputs.
– Use on-farm resources as much as possible.
Minimize Toxics
– Reduce or eliminate the use of materials that have the potential to harm the environment or the health of farmers, farm workers, or consumers.
Conserve Resources
Conserve Soil
– Sustain soil nutrient and organic matter stocks.
Minimize erosion.
– use perennials.
– use no-till or reduced tillage methods.
mulch.
Conserve Water
– Use efficient irrigation systems.
Conserve Energy
– Use energy efficient technologies.
Conserve genetic resources
– save seed.
– use heirloom varieties.
Conserve Capital
– Keep bank debt to a minimum.
Manage Ecological Relationships
Reestablish ecological relationships that can occur naturally on the farm instead of reducing and simplifying them.
Manage pests, diseases, and weeds instead of “œcontrolling” them.
Integrate Livestock
Enhance beneficial biota
In soils
– mycorrhizae
– Rhizobia
– free-living nitrogen fixers
Beneficial insects
– Provide refugia for beneficials.
– Enhance benefial populations by breed and release programs.
Recycle Nutrients
– Shift from throughflow nutrient management to recycling of nutrients.
– Return crop residues and manures to soils.
– When outside inputs are necessary, sustain their benefits by recycling them.
Minimize Disturbance
– Use reduced tillage or no-till methods.
– Use mulches.
– Use perennials
Adjust to Local Environments
– Match cropping patterns to the productive potential and physical limitations of the farm landscape.
Adapt Biota
– adapt plants and animals to the ecological conditions of the farm rather than modifying the farm to meet the needs of the crops and animals.
– Diversify Landscapes
– Maintain undisturbed areas as buffer zones.
– Use contour and strip tillage.
– Maintain riparian buffer zones.
– Use rotational grazing.
Biota
– Intercrop.
– Rotate crops.
– Use polyculture.
– Integrate animals in system.
Economics
– Avoid dependence on single crops/products.
– Use alternative markets.
– Organic markets.
– Community supported Agriculture (CSA).
– “Pick your own” marketing.
– Add value to agricultural products.
– Process foods before selling them.
– Find alternative incomes.
– Agrotourism
Empower People
– Use indigenous knowledge
– People-centric development.
– Increase farmer participation.
– Ensure intergenerational fairness.
– Guarantee Agricultural labor
Manage Whole Systems
– Landscapes
– Households
– Farms
– Communities
– Bioregions
Maximize Long-Term Benefits
– Maximize intergenerational benefits, not just annual profits.
– Maximize livelihoods and quality of life in rural areas.
– Facilitate generational transfers.
– Use long-term strategies.
– Incorporate long-term sustainability into overall agroecosystem design and management.
– Build soil fertility over the long-term.
– Add value to agricultural products.
Value Health
Human Health
Cultural Health
Environmental Health
– Value most highly the overall health of agroecosystems rather than the outcome of a particular crop system or season.
– Eliminate environmental pollution by toxics and surplus nutrients.
Animal Health
Plant Health